Twine-holder



(No Model.)

NOTTINGHAM, TWINE HOLDER,

J l Patentd Feb, 17

1W VENTOR .fdf'g fi ZaZZ/ UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGEE RICHARD OLIN NOTTINGHAM, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

TWINE-HOLDER.

GPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,691, dated February 17, 1891. Application filed September t'), 1890- Serial No. 366,061. (No modeLl To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD OLIN NOTTING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Twine- Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a holder in which may be placed in condition for use a number of balls of twine so connected together as to form a practically continuous strand or cord; and it consists of a case having an elongated twine-compartment and an elongated weight or equivalent twineretracting-device compartment beside the twilie-compartment.

That my invention may be the better understood, I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a twineholder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and at are similar views of cases or holders haviu g a plurality of twine and weight compartments. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a hexagonal revolving twineholder containing my invention. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section of the holder shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front view of another form of my invention.

lhe case or holder is designated by the lettcr A, and is divided by a partition into two compartments 2 and 3,the larger one 3 being for the reception of the balls of twine, and of a size in cross-section to receive the balls of the kind for which the case is made, and of a length equal to the diameter of two or more of the balls. One side 4; of the case is hinged and forms a door, by means of which access is had into the compartments 2 and 3.

In filling the case the balls are placed one above the other, and the inner end of the cord forming each ball is secured to the outer end of the cord of the ball nextabove throughout the entire series, it being understood that the balls are adapted to be unwound from the center in the usual manner. By thus assembling and connecting the balls the separate pieces of cord or twine of which they are com posed become practically one continuous strand or cord, which may be readily and continuously unwound, each ball unwinding in succession, beginning with the ball at the top or the end of the series. The free end of the cord from the uppermost ball passes through an aperture 5 in the upper portion of the partition 1 into the compartment 2, in which is situated a weight 0, suspended so as to slide freely upon the cord. This weight may be of any suitable style, a metallic ring having been found in practice to work very satisfactorily.

The cord passes out of the ease through the aperture 7 in the upper part of the side or end wall thereof. The free end of the cord which passes out through this aperture is partially drawn into the compartment 2 by the weight 6, which also serves to prevent accidental withdrawal of the cord should it catch upon a moving object.

The case A may be placed in any conven ient position and secured by any suitable means. Thus I have shown it provided with side plates or flanges 8, through which nails or screws may be passed to secure it to a side wall; or it may be provided with eyes 12 for the attachment of cords by which to suspend it.

The twine holder constructed as I have described possesses a number of important advantages. By making the holder with the elongated compartment 3, in which a plurality of balls may be arranged united to each other, as described, a large supply of cord may be placed in the holder at one time, thus avoiding the necessity of frequent filling, while at the same time there is sufficient length given to the case to allow of the weight-compartment being built therein, which. compartment must be of some considerable length to allow for the requisite weight movement, thus economizing space and material in the construction of the ease, as in all twine holders as heretofore made of which I have knowledge, the elongated weight-receptacle was separate from the twine-case.

I have thus far described a case having but two compartments, one for the balls of twine and the other for the weight; but the case may be enlarged and given greater capacity, so that several persons may use from the same holder at the same time, or so that different kinds of twine may be held in the same holder.

In Fig. 3 there is shown acase having two sets of compartments 2 and 3, and in Fig. 4: one having four sets.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a revolving case with six sets of elongated compartments is shown. In this case the holder revolves upon a spindle 9, whiehrises from a base 10. The weighteompartments 2, instead of being arranged across the entire fronts of the twine-compartments, occupy each one corner thereof, as shown in Fig. 0.

It will be observed that in each construe tion where there is a plurality of twine and weight compartments that the twin e-compartments are arranged adjacent to each other, with the weight compartments upon the outside thereof, and that a door is provided for the two compartments of each set, thus permitting any one to be filled and the weight strung 011 the twine without disturbing the others.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of my invention, wherein the compartments 2 and 3 are arranged horizontally, and a long loosely-coiled spring 11 takes the place of the weight employed in the other constructions.

The case or holder may be made of wood or metal, as preferred.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A cord-holder consisting of a case having an elongated compartment adapted to receive a plurality of balls of twine, an elongated weight-compartment beside the said twine-compartment, and a door which gives access to both of the said compartments, there being an aperture for the passage of the twine through the partition between the two compartments, substantially as described.

2. A cord-holder consisting of a case provided with a plurality of elongated twinecompartments arranged side by side, and a like number of weight compartments arranged by the side of the twine-compartments, the sides of the case being hinged to form doors, whereby access is had to the said compartments, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

R. OLIN NOTINGIIAH. \Vitnesses:

GEO. F. NOTTINGHAM, HANCOCK 14.0012. 

